SULTAN—State Rep. Carolyn Eslick, R-Sultan, announced Tuesday, March 31, she will not seek reelection at the end of her current term, concluding nearly a decade in the Legislature and almost 30 years in public service.
Eslick, the ranking member of the House Early Learning and Human Services Committee, said her decision reflects a desire to devote more time to work that supports children and families and improves behavioral health services across Washington.
“My work has always been centered on strengthening families, helping children and improving access to behavioral health services,” Eslick said. “After many years in public office, I’ve decided this is the right time to step away from the Legislature and devote more time to that work in other ways. There is still more to be done to make sure people can access the support they need, and I plan to stay engaged in that effort.”
Since joining the House in 2017, Eslick has focused on policies aimed at prevention, early support and practical improvements to systems serving children and families.
During the 2026 legislative session, she sponsored several measures that were signed into law, including:
- House Bill 2317, removing duplicative licensing requirements that delayed the opening of preschool classrooms and limited access for working families;
- House Bill 2323, creating a statewide Blue Envelope Program to improve communication and safety during traffic stops for neurodivergent individuals; and
- House Bill 2505, protecting housing stability for young adults leaving foster care by allowing them to remain with established caregivers.
Her work has consistently emphasized early intervention and community-based support. In 2021, she sponsored legislation establishing a statewide definition for family resource centers, helping formalize a model that connects families to services, strengthens stability and helps prevent more serious challenges before they arise. She also co-sponsored House Bill 2429 this year, making Washington Thriving the state’s official roadmap for behavioral health from before birth through age 25 and helping move Washington toward earlier support, better coordination and easier access for children, youth, young adults and families. She has also supported multiple efforts to expand child care access and workforce capacity, including co-sponsoring House Bill 1648 in 2025 to help stabilize the child care workforce and keep providers operating.
Before serving in the Legislature, Eslick was a longtime local official in Sultan. She served on the city council in the 1990s before being elected mayor in 2007 and reelected twice, serving until 2017. In 2010, she founded GROW Washington, a nonprofit organization that helps entrepreneurs start and grow small businesses. Earlier in her career, she owned and operated the Dutch Cup restaurant in Sultan for more than 20 years.
Throughout her legislative tenure, Eslick has earned recognition for her work on children’s issues and behavioral health, including multiple Behavioral Health Champion awards and being named Legislator of the Year in 2025 by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. She played a key role in securing funding for the STAR Center in Sedro-Woolley, a new 48-bed behavioral health facility that recently opened to provide crisis stabilization, detox services and longer-term treatment for individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges.
“It has been an honor to represent the people of the 39th District,” Eslick added. “I’m thankful for the trust they placed in me and for the opportunity to work on issues that matter to families across our state. I look forward to staying active in the community and continuing to help connect people to the support and services they need. This is not the end of the work, but a new chapter.”
Eslick will continue serving through the remainder of her term.
Source: Washington State House Republicans
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
